For months the status of the joint federal-state investigation into the so-called “Lexington Ring” has been the subject of intense speculation in South Carolina. In fact we’ve been told on repeated occasions that indictments against the leaders of the ring were said to be “imminent.”
Yet each time the buzz surrounding this investigation fizzles out … leaving Palmetto State residents to wonder whether this cabal of crooked cops and corrupt politicians will ever be brought to justice.
For those of you unfamiliar with the “Ring,” it burst into the headlines a year ago when a Lexington, S.C. councilman named Danny Frazier was surreptitiously recorded detailing its inner workings to a prospective client. These recordings were provided to the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) last spring by a former member of the ring – a ex-magistrate who claims he once issued favorable rulings from the bench on behalf of the underground video poker industry. Frazier originally denied making the statements contained in the recordings, but later changed his tune and said he fabricated them in an effort to make himself appear influential.
Among the names dropped by Frazier on the tapes? Lexington, S.C. Sheriff Jimmy Metts, Columbia, S.C. mayor Steve Benjamin, former S.C. Senator Jakie Knotts (RINO-Lexington) and S.C. Senator Ronnie Cromer (RINO-Newberry).
FITS has been following this saga every since it broke last August. Along with WIS TV 10 (NBC – Columbia, S.C.), we’ve been driving coverage of the “Ring” after The (Columbia, S.C.) Free Times – the outlet which originally broke the story – mysteriously backed off of its investigation (and destroyed the evidence it received).
So … is anything ever going to come of this scandal? Or will it be yet another example of “Palmetto Justice” – in which flagrant lawlessness on the part of our state’s leaders gets swept under the rug.
According to one of our well-placed sources in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, it is the former. According to this source, indictments against members of the “Lexington Ring” are indeed coming – but neither the U.S. Attorney nor SLED chief can move on them until “another file” is closed.
“We have a process and we are following that process,” our source said.
This source declined to discuss the “other file,” but it is generally believed to be the ongoing investigation into corruption at S.C. State University, home of the spectacularly failed Jim Clyburn Transportation Center.
Sources at SLED confirmed that indictments in the “Lexington Ring” case are forthcoming – and that they would likely be announced “in stages.”
Again, none of our sources would discuss the timing of these indictments.
In possibly related news, SLED confirmed this week that it was in the process of seizing more than 700 video poker machines from a warehouse in Swansea, S.C. – one of the largest raids the agency has ever conducted. The machines were being seized as part of an “ongoing investigation,” according to the agency.
As we’ve noted from the beginning of our coverage of the “Ring,” we continue to believe that all forms of gambling should be legalized in South Carolina. In fact these scandals have only heightened our resolve to integrate them into the free market – eliminating the current government-run gambling monopoly (as well as all of this backdoor corruption).
67 comments
Thanks, already got this from The State. Funny, we keep being told that indictments are imminent as well. I guess your source is just as lousy as ours is.
Thanks, already got this from The State. Funny, we keep being told that indictments are imminent as well. I guess your source is just as lousy as ours is.
Juicy.
Juicy.
You have to love it. Danny, Metts, and Jake had to put their machines somewhere and wait to see the dust settle. This is like watcing a bunch of rats in a barrell and seeing which one will turn on the other. By the end of this whole thing, they will have eaten each other. Jason from South Congaree is in the middle of all the rats and you know he will try and tunnel out of the barrell before being eaten. Can’t wait to see where the machines were found and whom tey belong to. Jimmy you should really star writing your resignation letter. These (or your) machines were found right under your nose.
You have to love it. Danny, Metts, and Jake had to put their machines somewhere and wait to see the dust settle. This is like watcing a bunch of rats in a barrell and seeing which one will turn on the other. By the end of this whole thing, they will have eaten each other. Jason from South Congaree is in the middle of all the rats and you know he will try and tunnel out of the barrell before being eaten. Can’t wait to see where the machines were found and whom tey belong to. Jimmy you should really star writing your resignation letter. These (or your) machines were found right under your nose.
Hope they are aware of Sidney Hursey as a key player.
Hope they are aware of Sidney Hursey as a key player.
They’re still trying to find the ruler to slap them on the wrist with.
They’re still trying to find the ruler to slap them on the wrist with.
I like these stories. They give us hope, even if that may be a false hope.
Thank You Fits for keeping the fires burning on this story.
I like these stories. They give us hope, even if that may be a false hope.
Thank You Fits for keeping the fires burning on this story.
I feel safer already. Now the 700 machines will be moved to a leased SLED storage facility so that “We the Tax Payer” can pay for the storage. Then later we can “fund” these idiots breaking them apart with sledge hammers after they are ruled illegal. I know I will sleep better tonight knowing these “Gambling Machines” are safely in SLEDs control. After all, only the government is allowed to “pick our poison”.
Off to buy scratch off’s. Have a great day!
Maybe we can raise money for new vests or something by allowing the public a 5.00 donation to take a few swings on the machines with a sledgehammer?
You’ll raise a lot more by charging $5 to take a swing at a pol or SLED agent.
I feel safer already. Now the 700 machines will be moved to a leased SLED storage facility so that “We the Tax Payer” can pay for the storage. Then later we can “fund” these idiots breaking them apart with sledge hammers after they are ruled illegal. I know I will sleep better tonight knowing these “Gambling Machines” are safely in SLEDs control. After all, only the government is allowed to “pick our poison”.
Off to buy scratch off’s. Have a great day!
Maybe we can raise money for new vests or something by allowing the public a 5.00 donation to take a few swings on the machines with a sledgehammer?
You’ll raise a lot more by charging $5 to take a swing at a pol or SLED agent.
Pinson must be singing.
Pinson’s shack is just up the street from me. This hasn’t affected his golf game one iota.
If he rolls over on the right people, he may not even miss a tee time. I imagine when the fit really starts hitting the shan, he and T-bone will make quite the chart topping duo.
Pinson must be singing.
Pinson’s shack is just up the street from me. This hasn’t affected his golf game one iota.
If he rolls over on the right people, he may not even miss a tee time. I imagine when the fit really starts hitting the shan, he and T-bone will make quite the chart topping duo.
So they can’t indict the criminals at SC State until the Lexington Ring case is ready? Got to have “justice” in corruption cases to keep Boss Clyburn happy.
So they can’t indict the criminals at SC State until the Lexington Ring case is ready? Got to have “justice” in corruption cases to keep Boss Clyburn happy.
I suspect this is tied in with the Parker’s gambling ring. As soon as this case is finished, we might see some action. Also, is it coincidence that a warehouse fin Swansea, full of video gambling machines, burned??
it funny you mention the connection. GLR LLC = Larry Ray Gunter. Its funny how the warehouse was found around this period of time around the case of Parker. It i amazing what you find if you dig around a little. This property on St Andrews is across the street from where all the gambling was being cvonducted in the Party Shop next to Zorba’s. I wonder how bad Andre, Jake, and Metts are squirming right.
It gets even stranger…If you look at the signatures on the deeds for that Swansea property filed in Lexington County, you will see that one of the names for GLR, LLC is Gary Watts. Is that the same Watts that is the Richland County Coroner?
I would think if these machines are the property of LRG jr, it might complicate that federal probation. Did he get probation?
I suspect this is tied in with the Parker’s gambling ring. As soon as this case is finished, we might see some action. Also, is it coincidence that a warehouse fin Swansea, full of video gambling machines, burned??
it funny you mention the connection. GLR LLC = Larry Ray Gunter. Its funny how the warehouse was found around this period of time around the case of Parker. It i amazing what you find if you dig around a little. This property on St Andrews is across the street from where all the gambling was being cvonducted in the Party Shop next to Zorba’s. I wonder how bad Andre, Jake, and Metts are squirming right.
It gets even stranger…If you look at the signatures on the deeds for that Swansea property filed in Lexington County, you will see that one of the names for GLR, LLC is Gary Watts. Is that the same Watts that is the Richland County Coroner?
I would think if these machines are the property of LRG jr, it might complicate that federal probation. Did he get probation?
A viewer of the state papere found an interesting tidbit on the GLR LLC. GLR LLC has an address of 6356 St Anrews Road per the Sec of State. Well, Well, The owner of 6356 is Andre Bauer. Isn’t this something. Being that Andre is Jake Knotts little boy and Jake was implemented in the ring by Danny Frazier. Wasn’t Jake involved in blowing a whistle on a cock fighting ring in swansea when Jake learned of an undercover DNR agent operating in Swansea. Jake and Jimmy would feel safe having the machines in Swansea, knowing theChief there wouldn’t do anything.
Careful there fellow. If you want to report the truth then you will add that the registered agent is a CPA and that it is common for LLC’s to be registered by CPA’s and attorneys for their clients. You will also state that there is a CPA who occupies a portion of said space. Keep reaching and you may feel some blowback.
Andre Bauer shares a patent with Lanny Ray Gunter Jr, a beer coozie. Andre and Jr were business partners with said coozie. Jr also is on record as a campaign donor for Andre. Sr or Jr also ran video gambling machines when they were legal. The recently discovered machines, as reported, showed signs of recent repairs. Dum de dum dum, dum de dum dum, dum de dum dum daaaaa
I would not trust AB as for as I could throw him.
A viewer of the state papere found an interesting tidbit on the GLR LLC. GLR LLC has an address of 6356 St Anrews Road per the Sec of State. Well, Well, The owner of 6356 is Andre Bauer. Isn’t this something. Being that Andre is Jake Knotts little boy and Jake was implemented in the ring by Danny Frazier. Wasn’t Jake involved in blowing a whistle on a cock fighting ring in swansea when Jake learned of an undercover DNR agent operating in Swansea. Jake and Jimmy would feel safe having the machines in Swansea, knowing theChief there wouldn’t do anything.
Careful there fellow. If you want to report the truth then you will add that the registered agent is a CPA and that it is common for LLC’s to be registered by CPA’s and attorneys for their clients. You will also state that there is a CPA who occupies a portion of said space. Keep reaching and you may feel some blowback.
Andre Bauer shares a patent with Lanny Ray Gunter Jr, a beer coozie. Andre and Jr were business partners with said coozie? Jr also is on record as a campaign donor for Andre’s run for Governor. Sr or Jr also ran video gambling machines when they were legal. The recently discovered machines, as reported, showed signs of recent repairs. Who owns the machines? Who placed the machines in a Swansea warehouse. I mean we are talking at least two 53 foot semi trailers worth of machines. Just having them in SC is breaking the law.
I would not trust AB as for as I could throw him.
” the subject of intense speculation in South Carolina” I put in calls to coastal and upstate counties and no one had ever heard of this nor did they give a damn about local Lexington/Richland affairs. That is how “intense” it is.
” the subject of intense speculation in South Carolina” I put in calls to coastal and upstate counties and no one had ever heard of this nor did they give a damn about local Lexington/Richland affairs. That is how “intense” it is.
Fits, don’t forget to refer bak to Danny’s orignal tapes where he explains ho the rng sets up fake LLC n oher eoples name in in order that the gambling doesn’tcome back on them. What are the odds that someone that as 700 pker machines on their property with a business under an LLC that is the same property Andre owns. EVERYONE knows how close Andre and Jake are. Boy, the dots keep getting connected.
Yes, like Lake Murray Submarine.
Did you type that with your toes?
Fits, don’t forget to refer bak to Danny’s orignal tapes where he explains ho the rng sets up fake LLC n oher eoples name in in order that the gambling doesn’tcome back on them. What are the odds that someone that as 700 pker machines on their property with a business under an LLC that is the same property Andre owns. EVERYONE knows how close Andre and Jake are. Boy, the dots keep getting connected.
Yes, like Lake Murray Submarine.
Did you type that with your toes?
There may be surprises in this thing. Rumor (street talk) is that some of the rings associates (Scags and Skanks, scum and sluts) may take a thrashing also.
It would help to clean up county government, Towns of Lexington, West Columbia and South Congree!
It will be interesting to see!
I’d love to see the whole bunch run out of the County and towns on a rail, greased with rat feces. It would be appropriate, so appropriate.
There may be surprises in this thing. Rumor (street talk) is that some of the rings associates (Scags and Skanks, scum and sluts) may take a thrashing also.
It would help to clean up county government, Towns of Lexington, West Columbia and South Congree!
It will be interesting to see!
I’d love to see the whole bunch run out of the County and towns on a rail, greased with rat feces. It would be appropriate, so appropriate.
Danny sold his house last month, lanny bought tony;s lakehouse,6 months later
Tony bought a life interest in lakehouse, last month tony sold lakehouse for 800,000
Tonys tax liens paid off , lanny;s federal judgement paid off
Danny sold his house last month, lanny bought tony;s lakehouse,6 months later
Tony bought a life interest in lakehouse, last month tony sold lakehouse for 800,000
Tonys tax liens paid off , lanny;s federal judgement paid off
I don’t think it was a coincidence that Richard Breibart agreed to a guilty plea today. Everybody in town knows he’s been singing like the proverbial canary since he got in there. The attempts to label him bat crap crazy has been manufactured to destroy his creditability. I talked to Breibart a couple of months before he was brought down. He said that Jakie would get Toal to take care of him and Jakie in the gambling things just as she did in the Boss Bull estate fiasco. Wonder how that’s working out for Breibart.
I don’t think it was a coincidence that Richard Breibart agreed to a guilty plea today. Everybody in town knows he’s been singing like the proverbial canary since he got in there. The attempts to label him bat crap crazy has been manufactured to destroy his creditability. I talked to Breibart a couple of months before he was brought down. He said that Jakie would get Toal to take care of him and Jakie in the gambling things just as she did in the Boss Bull estate fiasco. Wonder how that’s working out for Breibart.
So they can’t work on this case until they finish another case. “Sorry, we can’t work on a murder case right now, we’re still trying to process this jaywalking case”.
So they can’t work on this case until they finish another case. “Sorry, we can’t work on a murder case right now, we’re still trying to process this jaywalking case”.
There are some things I disagree with Fits on but to push our corrupt government Officials out into the open I will go along with the minor disagreements.Keep pushing hard there Will.
There are some things I disagree with Fits on but to push our corrupt government Officials out into the open I will go along with the minor disagreements.Keep pushing hard there Will.
What is this the news has reported that Gary watts was an owner of the property back in the spring. If this is true , is this connected to the Parker case from information gained. This would be a huge conflict since Gary watts was the corner on the scene of the Parker case. I just hope this isn’t true and Gary is not involved
What is this the news has reported that Gary watts was an owner of the property back in the spring. If this is true , is this connected to the Parker case from information gained. This would be a huge conflict since Gary watts was the corner on the scene of the Parker case. I just hope this isn’t true and Gary is not involved
Well Well….I keep hearing all of what is to come…..heard that several other members of LCSD have their tit in a ringer…..the idiot deputy chief…lied to a grand jury…SLED would not hire him….SCANA would not hire him…now he is trying to get the executive director job at SCLEOA…which Timmy James ran into the ground (1000 a month at the capital city club)…they interviewed the retired jail administrator at LCSD twice this past month….over all this crapola with ICE and the Rawl Farm.
And, let us not forget that the corruption of Jimmy Metts knows no bounds…..he was at the Pelion Peanut Parade…..looked like a cat on a hot tin roof. And why does Jimmy Metts keep asking everybody at SLED and the like “what’s going on?”
Well fat boy….if you have not done anything wrong, who gives a shit “what’s going on?”
Well Well….I keep hearing all of what is to come…..heard that several other members of LCSD have their tit in a ringer…..the idiot deputy chief…lied to a grand jury…SLED would not hire him….SCANA would not hire him…now he is trying to get the executive director job at SCLEOA…which Timmy James ran into the ground (1000 a month at the capital city club)…they interviewed the retired jail administrator at LCSD twice this past month….over all this crapola with ICE and the Rawl Farm.
And, let us not forget that the corruption of Jimmy Metts knows no bounds…..he was at the Pelion Peanut Parade…..looked like a cat on a hot tin roof. And why does Jimmy Metts keep asking everybody at SLED and the like “what’s going on?”
Well fat boy….if you have not done anything wrong, who gives a shit “what’s going on?”
Jake Moore is a piece of shit! The world will br a better place when the devil calls him home!!
Jake Moore is a piece of shit! The world will br a better place when the devil calls him home!!
Has anyone herd of Danny’s teenage friend that put out campaign signs for him? How many tickets has he gotten dismissed the past few years?? Also heard he stole a trackhoe from saluda river club and Frazier and Mets somehow always manage to slip him out of trouble… Also I’m pretty sure the teen knows everything about all of the poker warehouses and also the kid has security footage that he took before SLED could obtain it…… I’m surprised there’s not more talk about this than there is…. Now I’m starting to see why the teen gets out of everything.. It’s because he knows to much for them to let him go…. Rumor around lexington is the same teenager that is a senior at lexington high school is now helping Alan Wilson.